Politics

Raajje TV admits allegations of fraud against tax commissioner was a mistake

Raajje TV said it made a mistake by publishing allegations of fraud against the tax commissioner, Mohamed Yazeed, who has sued the station for defamation over the report

MDP decides to join all-party talks

The MDP’s national council decided to heed the Commonwealth’s call for time-bound dialogue without preconditions “to achieve national agreement on institutional reform, and to ensure a conducive environment for credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018.”

EC promises to release political party funds ahead of January’s polls

“We are trying to distribute the funds as soon as possible. It will be given before the preparations for local council elections begin for sure,” EC member Ahmed Akram told The Maldives Independent today. “All that’s remaining now is the administrative procedures to distribute the money.”

After Commonwealth warning, government renews call for dialogue

On Sunday, the government asked the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party and the Adhaalath Party to send details of its representatives for all-party talks “as they were the only parties who have not yet done so despite several previous requests.”

Ridicule and relief after president mistakenly proclaims island uninhabited

A decree issued on Thursday declaring Mundoo as uninhabited was rescinded later that night with the president’s office blaming incorrect information from the department of national registration and apologising to the island’s small population.

Fuvahmulah declared Maldives’ third city

As Fuvahmulah is uniquely both an island and its own atoll, it currently has an atoll council as well as island councils for each of its eight administrative wards, with a total of 30 elected councillors. However, the island will now have a three-member city council.

Maldives seeks election to UN Security Council

Citing under-representation of small states in the UN’s main bodies, Foreign Minister Dr Mohamed Asim announced Saturday the Maldives’ candidature to the UN Security Council for the term 2019-2020.

Catering firm awarded project to build bridge viewing platform

Strada Pvt Ltd, a food and beverage firm owned by a senior ruling party official, will bear the MVR8 million (US$518,800) cost, according to the housing ministry.

Maldives placed on Commonwealth agenda, warned of suspension

The Maldives has been placed on the Commonwealth’s formal agenda and warned of suspension, with officials citing “deep disappointment” at the country’s lack of progress in resolving a protracted political crisis.

Immigration revokes passport of MDP chairperson, ex-vice president’s associates

“We have shared this information with other countries. Hence, if they travel using this passport, they will face problems at the point of entry and immigration will not be responsible for any inconvenience or loss they may have to face,” said Hassan Khaleel, the department’s media official.

Court orders reinstatement of ex-president’s bodyguard

The civil court ordered the defence ministry on Monday to reinstate a senior military officer who was unfairly dismissed in the wake of President Abdulla Yameen’s inauguration in November 2013. Sergeant Major Naushad Ali was among nine high-ranking officers fired over accusations of sowing discord within the military ahead of the 2013 presidential election.

Commonwealth urged to suspend Maldives over ‘slide to dictatorship’

A New Delhi-based human rights group has urged the Commonwealth’s democracy watchdog to suspend the Maldives from the organisation over an unresolved and protracted political crisis, warning that “the nation is sliding into a dictatorial system once again.”

PPM denies talks between Nasheed and Gayoom

Abdul Aleem Adam, the PPM’s deputy secretary-general, accused the exiled opposition leader of “lying to bring to President Maumoon into disrepute and to create discord among PPM members.”

Committee to Protect Journalists condemns raid of Maldives Independent office

The New York-based press freedom organisation also called on the government to “immediately stop all attempts to intimidate the press, and send a clear message to Maldives Independent editor Zaheena Rasheed that she can return home without fear of persecution.”

Transparency calls for ‘broad investigation’ after corruption exposé

Anti-corruption NGO Transparency Maldives has called for a broad and independent investigation into allegations raised in an Al Jazeera exposé about systemic corruption, abuse of power and criminal activity at the highest level of government.

Three members from MDP national council detained for ‘anti-national activities’

Gayoom denies demanding US$100k from Nasheed as ‘goodwill’ gesture

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has denied demanding US$100,000 from his longtime rival and successor as a “goodwill” gesture for negotiations on forming an alliance to oust his embattled half-brother.

Two men detained over ‘coup plot’ released without charges

Ibrahim Shahiban Ahmed and Mohamed Shamin Ali, who work for various environmental NGOs, were detained during a raid of the building that houses the Maldives Independent.

Al Jazeera corruption exposé dismissed as ‘defamatory and biased’

The government has dismissed an explosive Al Jazeera corruption exposé aired on Wednesday as defamatory and biased, accusing the Qatari broadcaster of advancing the opposition’s agenda to oust President Abdulla Yameen.

Opposition activist arrested over tweet released with conditions

Shammoon ‘Lucas’ Jaleel was arrested on June 29 over a tweet in which he likened police officers to a streak of tigers. The 27-year-old spent one month and seven days at the police detention centre on the island of Dhoonidhoo.